Well I cannot answer on the two 15,000 units I bought. UPS broke both the one to my house--and the one I had mailed to the store. I did find a 12,000 BTU at the store and it has an economy setting and it does turn off and on --completely off like a refrigerator. If you are going to buy a 15,000 unit I suggest doing so from the store and really take a close look at the box. My boxes had holes and sides split from top to bottom--broken all to heck! On the one I bought- I ask the store clerk why the floor box was so nice and he stated those units are brought by a Best Buy truck. Makes a difference--who is driving the truck!!